What kind of regime governs Iran?
Since the revolution which overthrew the monarchy in 1979, Iran has been run by a Shia Islamist regime which has violently suppressed internal dissent. Both Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country’s powerful Supreme Leader, and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are uncompromising hardliners. There have been periods when it appeared that the Iranian leadership was opting for greater moderation and reform. This occurred with the sanctioned election of Mohamed Khatami, considered the reformist candidate to the presidency in 1997. While the Khatami reign (through 2005) was marked by some moderation in Irans public stance towards the West, the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei tightly controlled most of the state apparatus. Irans nuclear weapons program also intensified during this period. Most recently, in the June 2009 presidential election campaign, there were strong indications that the reformist candidate, Mir-Hussein Mousavi, would prevail over the incumbent, Ahmadinejad. However, within hou